June 2017 Edition

Published on 01 June 2017

This month, we are excited to announce that Council will be participating in the 2017 Small Business Festival, which is taking place across Victoria in August/September. This year's program features 500+ events across the state, including five events being held in Hobsons Bay. Event bookings will go live tomorrow, Friday 2 June.

The Victorian Government is helping with the Automotive Supply Chain Transition Program (ASCTP), which helps business identify future opportunities including access to new markets or products. Victorian based businesses that generate at least 20 per cent of their revenue from the automotive supply chain are eligible to apply.

There are opportunities for local business to enter a number of awards including our own Hobsons Bay Business Excellence Awards, plus the RACV Victorian Tourism Awards and Victorian Training Awards.

If you are a ‘start-up’/ new business, there is information about the Incubator Support initiative and some helpful webinar resources as part of this eNewsletter.

If you have any questions about doing business in Hobsons Bay or how Council can assist in helping your business grow or what you would like to hear about in future editions of the eNewsletter, please contact us on 03 9932 1285 or email business@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au

Tickets go on sale tomorrow Friday 2 June for the 2017 Small Business Festival, being held across the state in August/ September. The festival includes more than 500 events aimed at helping small business owners to get inspired, connect with other small businesses and learn new skills.

In Hobsons Bay, there will be five events running during the festival, covering a range of topics from business planning to marketing and networking. Read more here.

The changes in car manufacturing in Victoria have meant automotive supply chain companies have had to consider options for the future.

The Victorian Government is helping with the Automotive Supply Chain Transition Program (ASCTP), which helps business identify future opportunities including access to new markets or products.

So far, 42 businesses have taken advantage of this support, with their transition plans focusing on marketing strategies, new product development, joint ventures and expanding into new markets.

Dean Haritos, Group Managing Director of grant recipient MHG Glass, says the company was able to come up with a solution to keep their facility running, that will transform the business from an automotive glass supplier to a diverse architectural glass supplier.

Victorian based businesses that generate at least 20 per cent of their revenue from the automotive supply chain are eligible to apply.

If your business is eligible, call Business Victoria on 13 22 15 or visit www.business.vic.gov.au/asctp. Projects must be completed by 30 June 2018.

An Environment Effects Statement (EES) for the West Gate Tunnel Project has been released, giving residents throughout the west a chance to have their say.
The 10,000 page EES assesses the environmental effects and benefits of the project which includes:

Taking more than 9,000 trucks per day off residential streets in the inner west, as up to 67,000 vehicles use the new tunnels every day as an alternative to the West Gate Bridge
Cutting travel times by up to 20 minutes between Melbourne and the western suburbs, Geelong and Ballarat
Planting more than 17,000 trees including 4000 mature trees, replacing trees that need to be removed at a ratio of more than 3:1
Protecting the health of the community with the report finding that there will be no measurable change in the health of the community associated with the project.

The EES, EPA Works Approval application and draft Planning Scheme Amendment will be on public exhibition and open to comment until Monday 10 July.

Local residents and businesses can view the full EES at www.westgatetunnelproject.vic.gov.au/ees and it is on display at 14 locations across the western suburbs, Geelong and Ballarat.

The Industry Capability Network (ICN) is a business network that introduces Australian and New Zealand companies to projects large and small. ICN offers a new business source for suppliers and a sophisticated search service for project managers.

ICN is an independent organisation financially supported by Australian, New Zealand, state and territory governments. Since it started more than 30 years ago, they have helped local suppliers find $30 billion worth of contracts.

Joining ICN also helps you promote your company’s capabilities throughout their business network.

Connect with businesses:

A 70,000+ supplier database and a network of industry specialists helps open doors to great projects and other suppliers across Australia and around the world
Over 12,000 supplier searches per month
View the profiles of businesses you might like to partner with
Follow businesses that you’re interested in
See how you compare to your competition.

And most importantly, ICN can provide your business with the right connections, contacts and advice to help unlock the sales opportunities across Australia and even internationally, that you need to grow.

Find out more at https://gateway.icn.org.au/

The 2017 Federal Budget was released on 9 May 2017 with a number of measures announced for business, including:

A commitment to cut the corporate tax rate and an extension to the asset write-off initiative (including an increase in the turnover threshold to $10m). Details on the budget website.

$11.6 million further investment in the National Business Simplification Initiative which includes:
$9.1 million to simplify business registrations and licensing and permit information; and
$2.5 million to integrate the VANguard digital identity solution into a streamlined whole of government initiative (GovPass) that will allow businesses to verify and link their ABN to their Govpass identity for use across all tiers of government.

More information can be found here on the Federal Budget 2017 website.

Budget 2017: Support for Advanced Manufacturing
As part of the 2017 Federal Budget, $100 million for an Advanced Manufacturing Fund has been announced to assist businesses transition to high value advanced manufacturing in South Australia and Victoria. This is to be delivered through a range of measures:

$47.5 million for a new Advanced Manufacturing Growth Fund, committed over two years for up to a third of the project cost of capital upgrades to establish and expand high value manufacturing in South Australia and Victoria;
$4 million for the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre, committed over two years, to support small scale and pilot research projects in advanced manufacturing, benefiting small firms and early stage researchers;
$20 million under the Cooperative Research Centre – Projects initiative, committed over two years, for larger scale advanced manufacturing research projects of up to $3 million in funding over three years;
$10 million to establish Innovation Labs in South Australia and Victoria to serve industry in a variety of roles including test centre facilities and business capability development
$5 million to maintain engineering excellence by investing in student research at universities, technology institutions and in industry to continue the flow of highly trained engineers to the automotive design and engineering sector; and
$13.5 million tariff reduction on imported vehicle prototypes and components used by Australian motor vehicle design and engineering services that operate in a global network

More details on these measures can be found here

Employer Essentials
Thursday 8 June 2017 from 10am to 11.30am
Hobsons Bay City Council, 115 Civic Parade, Altona, VIC 3018
Cost: FREE

Get ready for tax time. With the end of the financial year fast approaching, come along and learn about your tax obligations as an employer and what you need to do to prepare for tax time. You'll benefit by learning about:

Pay as you go (PAYG) withholding annual report and payment summaries
Completing and lodging your business tax return
What you need to do if you provide fringe benefits to your employees
The superannuation guarantee and how to calculate what to pay, when and how
Taxable payments report for the building and construction industry
How and when to lodge, and more

In addition, we'll also discuss the important topic of employee or contractor, covering:

The difference between employees and contractors
Common myths about contracting
How to determine if your workers are employees or contractors
What your tax and super obligations are for each.

Bookings essential: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/employer-essentials-altona-vic-tickets-33802212327

The Entrepreneurs’ Programme have offered commercialisation grants to 15 Australian businesses.

What are the grants for?

Commercialisation grants support projects that help address challenges across key industries, including:
·      medical technologies and pharmaceuticals
·      advanced manufacturing
·      food and agribusiness
·      oil, gas and energy resources
·      mining equipment, technology and services.
The funding will help each of the 15 businesses push their innovative new products, processes and services out into the marketplace by helping them undertake development and commercialisation activities like product trials, licensing and manufacturing.

The grants are matched dollar-for-dollar by the businesses. So far, 200 businesses have benefited from over $105 million in funding, as well as support from experienced advisers, to get their ideas off the ground.

What projects have been offered support?
Some of the projects offered support in this round of commercialisation grants include:
·      innovative visual field analysis, to better diagnose and manage neurological diseases, including diagnosing concussion on the sports field
·      automation of plant tissue culture production in the nursery, helping industry to improve productivity, reduce planting costs, decrease growing times and produce higher plant quality
·      ground penetrating radar technology and software for faster, clearer and deeper group location, mapping and imaging of underground utility pipes and cables
·      pre-fabricated and portable solar arrays for cheaper and faster building of commercial solar systems.

Find out more bout commercialisation grants:
·      Visit the Accelerating Commercialisation webpage

Supporting innovation – the Incubator Support initiative is open for applications
Incubator Support is a $23 million initiative designed to improve the prospects of Australian startups by providing matched funding grants between $10,000 and $500,000 to New and Existing and Expert-in-Residence Incubators. Incubator Support is an element of the Entrepreneurs' Programme.

The Incubator Support initiative assists New and Existing Incubators to:

improve the prospects of Australian start-ups achieving commercial success in international markets
assist Australian start-ups by delivering a range of activities to develop the capabilities required to realise their economic potential in international markets faster than they otherwise would; and
develop Australia’s innovation ecosystem including in Australian regions.

The initiative provides funding through two components, both of which require matched funding from applicants.

The first is support for New and Existing Incubators:

to help develop new Incubators in regions or sectors with high potential for success in international trade, and
to boost the effectiveness of high performing Incubators, including funding support to expand their services and/or develop the innovation ecosystem.

The second is support for Expert-in-Residence:

to organise and provide access to top quality research, managerial and technical talent through secondments of national or international expert advisers who will improve the chance of commercial success for start-ups in international markets.

For more information about eligibility and to apply visit https://www.business.gov.au/assistance/incubator-support

Support available for young Australian entrepreneurs with the Encouraging Entrepreneurship and self-employment initiative
Are you a young Australian with a great business idea? If so, our friends at the Department of Employment have launched the Encouraging Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment initiative to help eligible young Australians start and run their own business!
Their initiative is made up of are four key measures to support young people starting a business:

New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) – provides help by offering tailored training, mentoring and income support to young people who want to become self-employed by starting a business.
SelfStart Online Hub – provides information to guide young people through the first stages of starting their own business including planning, validating your idea, finding local support, and perfecting your pitch.
Entrepreneurship Facilitators - facilitators work in areas of high youth unemployment promoting entrepreneurship to help young people get their business idea up and running.
‘Exploring being my own boss’ workshops – the two week workshops provide young job seekers with a taste of what’s involved in self-employment and starting a business. After these workshops, participants will have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in running a small business.

Find out more:

Go to the Department of Employment website to learn more about the Encouraging Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment initiative.

All info at https://www.employment.gov.au/news/launch-encouraging-entrepreneurship-and-self-employment-initiative

2017 Hobsons Bay Business Excellence Awards – get your entries in soon!
It's time to submit your entry into the 2017 Hobsons Bay Business Excellence Awards. The awards provide a unique opportunity for businesses both large and small to be recognised for their achievements, innovation and leading work practices. From home-based businesses and start ups, to manufacturing and logistics companies, the business awards bring together people to celebrate their successes and accomplishments.

Information sessions will be held at 4pm and then again at 6pm on Wednesday 12 July, 2017 where there will be an opportunity to ask any questions you have and gain tips on how to complete the application. To register your interest in attending, please email business@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au

Entry for the business awards is via an online application form at: www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/businessawards
Nominations close by 5pm Friday 18 August 2017.
Winners will be announced at the gala dinner at the Williamstown Town Hall on Friday 20 October 2017.

The RACV Victorian Tourism Awards represent an industry framework for peer recognition which fosters a culture for business development excellence and innovation. The Awards have assisted the Victorian tourism industry for over 30 years in striving for excellence.
More than 3000 businesses have entered the Awards and have benefited through thorough examination of their business practice, with many recognised as winners at a national level.

If you are a Melbourne tourism business interested in a first time entry to the 2017 RACV Tourism Awards, Destination Melbourne has a mentor program which offers a Project Support Officer to help guide you through the process. For more information please view their website or contact Sharna Crosbie – Industry Development Manager at Destination Melbourne: sharna@destination.melbourne

Nominations will close on 30 June, entry is free and will need to be submitted by Monday 4 September. The Gala Ceremony will once again be held at Palladium at Crown on Thursday 23 November 2017.

Victorian Training Awards
Now in its 63rd year, the prestigious Victorian Training Awards (VTA) recognise and honour the outstanding achievements of Vocational Education and Training students, teachers, training providers and employers.

The Awards are not only open to students, registered training providers and TAFEs but to Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and large employers providing high quality training to their workers.

Through celebrating excellence in the training and TAFE system, the Awards highlight student achievement and showcase innovation and collaboration between industry and training providers - continuing to put Victoria's top achievers in the spotlight.
Nominations for the Victorian Training Awards must be submitted via the online portal system by Friday 16 June 2017. https://vta.awardsplatform.com/

The Victorian Training Awards program team can be contacted via phone 9907 6635 or email: victorian.training.awards@edumail.vic.gov.au

The Business Victoria webinar series brings up to the minute learning at your fingertips. Simply find what interests you and see what other attendees thought. Check what is coming up via this link
http://www.business.vic.gov.au/events-workshops-and-mentoring/webinars

In addition, see below for details of two upcoming webinars brought to you by the Australian Government’s Entrepreneurs’ Programme:
Webinar Series: Social Media for Your Business
Effective Social Media use can help your business to maximise success. With more and more customers connecting with businesses online each year, this webinar will help your business take advantage of social media channels to promote your products or services and to communicate with your customers.
Date: 15 June 2017
Time: 12:30 to 1:30pm
See the registration link for all further details and to register https://www.business.gov.au/events/webinar-series-social-media-for-your-business

Webinar Series: Cyber Security for Your Business
All businesses are vulnerable to cyberattacks. Whilst many go to great lengths to protect their physical assets many do not take similar precautions with their digital information. A cyber security plan is essential for business success. This webinar will help equip businesses with the knowledge and tools to incorporate cyber security into your business.

Date: 31 July 2017
Time: 12:30 to 1:30pm
See the registration link for all further details and to register https://www.business.gov.au/events/webinar-series-cyber-security-for-your-business

If you have any questions regarding either of these webinars, please contact EPLearningEvents@industry.gov.au

WynBay LLEN is an independent broker of strategic partnerships between business, education, training and community organizations in the local government areas of Wyndham and Hobsons Bay.

The LLEN is also an incorporated network comprising business, industry, education, training and community members. All stakeholders and members of the network are invested in building brighter futures for our regions.

For businesses and educators who want to make strategic and impactful investments in partnerships – WynBay LLEN can facilitate, advise, manage and evaluate partnerships that will realize successful outcomes for all parties.

WynBay LLEN is currently funded by the Victorian government and maintains a close working relationship with the Department of Education. Representing over 100 businesses, WynBay LLENhas a real appreciation of business needs. Collaboration and partnerships between businesses, education providers and the community can create powerful solutions to meeting your learning, skilling or employment goals. WynBay LLEN are focused on assisting government improve youth attainment and transition outcomes and to create successful labor market outcomes for youth.

To read more about WynBay LLEN strategic objectives, structure workplace learning and more visit http://www.wynbayllen.org.au/hom

Penske Power Systems (PPS), (with it's head office located in Altona North) is a leading world distributor of diesel and gas engines and power systems. They represent some of the most innovative and well-respected brands in the industry, and boast a product portfolio from MTU, Detroit, Allison Transmission, Mercedes-Benz and MTU Onsite Energy, as well as aftermarket products from leading oil, coolant and filter brands.

In May 2017 Penske Power Systems secured a five year contract extension by the Department of Defence to supply maintenance and support services for ANZAC class frigates, Australian light armoured vehicles (ASLAV) and M113 land vehicles. An extension to the current services provided by PPS to the Department of Defence, this contract will deliver full maintenance and support services for propulsion diesels, power generation diesels, compressors and ancillary equipment, and has a contract value of $78 million. The program of work will also include the provision of project management, logistics and help‐desk support services.

PPS’ Defence Programmes Group National Manager, Roger Gleeson, said the recent contract has the potential to expand to 10 years and include supporting additional platforms such as Hobart class destroyers, Armidale class patrol boats, Canberra class landing helicopter decks (LHD) and Cantabria class auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) equipment, combat reconnaissance and infantry fighting vehicles.

PPS will carry out the work across several Australian branches in Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory.

2017 Hobsons Bay Community Fund Business Lunch
Businesses across Hobsons Bay are invited to attend a great business and networking lunch and to help the Hobsons Bay Community Fund celebrate 11 years of their work in supporting community groups and organisations operating in Hobsons Bay.
When: Friday 9 June 12 noon to 3pm
Where: Hellenic Hotel, 28 Ferguson Street Williamstown.
Why: To help the Hobsons Bay Community Fund continue its great work providing financial support to local community groups, and to network with other local business people.
Cost: $130 per person plus drinks (ticket price includes three course lunch plus a drink on arrival).
Seating: Mixed tables of 8 and 10.
Limited to 100 seats, so be quick!
RSVP: 1 June www.trybooking.com/277006

World Environment Day ‘Connecting People with Nature’
Monday 5 June, 5.45pm
Scienceworks Planetarium, 2 Booker Street, Spotswood
Hobsons Bay City Council are hosting a World Environment Day free event. Come along to hear inspiring speakers sharing their passion and knowledge and exploring how and why we connect with nature. Please register at libraries.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au or call 9932 1082.

To find out more and to register, please follow this link: http://libraries.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/whats-on/environment/1345-world-environment-day

Funding Opportunities
Hobsons Bay City Council has a rich history of supporting arts, cultural, community, sporting, tourism and special interest events, contributing to experiences and opportunities across the city. Funding rounds are now open for Local Event and Festivals, Short Lead Events, Major Events, Special Events. The annual Community Grants program is also currently open and provides financial support to local community organisations and groups for activities and projects. For all the details and to apply, please go to www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au